Former Hatebreed Drummer Found Guilty of Felony Murder

Former Hatebreed drummer Nicholas Papantoniou has been found guilty of felony murder in the 2014 shooting death of a 56-year-old man in Hamden, Conn.

The New Haven Register reports Papantoniou, 39, was also found guilty of first-degree burglary and criminal possession of a firearm. The charges date back to the October 2014 murder of Larry Dildy. Co-defendant William Coutermash testified he went to Dildy’s home with Papantoniou to steal pills and money. Papantoniou claimed he unknowingly went to Dildy’s home with Countermash, where Countermash argued with Dildy over an outstanding debt. Papantoniou said the gun accidentally went off during a struggle with Dildy.

Papantoniou, who played drums for the metal outfit Hatebreed between 1996 and 1997, will face sentencing on May 26. He could face up to 90 years in prison.